Dog dies in Fisher house fire

Firefighters in the back of the Danny Zehr home at 24 Green Street in Fisher on Thursday, June 13, 2013.

Image

Image

Image

Image

FISHER — An investigator from the state fire marshal's office is expected to look into the cause of a Thursday afternoon fire that destroyed a house in Fisher.

While no people were hurt, a pet was killed.

Firefighters from the Sangamon Valley Fire Protection District were called to a home at 24 Green St., about 3:10 p.m. Thursday after a neighbor reported seeing flames and black smoke coming through the roof.

Firefighters from the Cornbelt and Gibson City fire departments provided mutual aid.

When the firefighters arrived, they found smoke and fire coming from the rear of the single-story ranch house, according to Sangamon Valley Fire Chief Eric Stalter.

While no people were in the house during the fire, firefighters found a 78-pound boxer named Chopper dead in the living room. Stalter said the dog died from smoke inhalation.

Firefighters had the fire under control by 3:40 p.m. and left the scene at 5:36 p.m., Stalter said.

Stalter said the cause of the fire remains undetermined. He said it appeared the fire started in the rear of the house.

The home's owner, Dan Zehr, said he was working at his business, Johnson Motor Service, on Thursday afternoon when he received a telephone call telling him his house was on fire.

"I've lived there since 1978, and I'm going to miss that house," Zehr said. "It looked to me like it is going to be a total loss."